MANUFACTURING : View Posts

NEW YORK & PITTSBURGH – Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is expanding its R&D center in Pennsylvania to accelerate the development of advanced 3D-printing materials and processes. Alcoa will produce materials designed specifically for a range of additive technologies to meet increasing demand for complex, high-performance 3D-printed parts for aerospace and other high-growth markets such as automotive, medical and building and construction. The $60 million expansion is under construction at the Alcoa Technical Center, the world’s largest light metals research center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“Alcoa is investing in the next generation of 3D printing for aerospace and beyond,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. “Combining our expertise in metal alloys, manufacturing, design and product qualification, we will push beyond the limits of today’s additive manufacturing. This investment strengthens our leadership position in meeting fast-growing demand for aerospace components made using additive technologies.”

Demonstrating this integrated strategy, the Company today unveiled its Ampliforge™ process, a technique combining advanced materials, designs and additive and traditional manufacturing processes. Using the Ampliforge™ process, Alcoa designs and 3D-prints a near complete part, then treats it using a traditional manufacturing process, such as forging. The Company has shown that the process can enhance the properties of 3D-printed parts, such as increasing toughness and strength, versus parts made solely by additive manufacturing. Further, the Ampliforge™ process significantly reduces material input and simplifies production relative to traditional forging processes. Alcoa is piloting the technique in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

The Company’s comprehensive approach to advancing additive manufacturing includes:

Materials Leadership: Alcoa’s material scientists will produce proprietary aluminum, titanium and nickel powders designed specifically for 3D-printing. These powders will be tailored for various additive manufacturing processes to produce higher strength 3D-printed parts, and meet other quality and performance requirements. Alcoa has a long history in metal alloy and powder development, having invented over 90 percent of the aluminum alloys used in aerospace today and with a 100-year history in aluminum metal powder development for rocket fuel, paint and other products.
Combination of Process and Design: Alcoa will further its development of advanced 3D-printing design and manufacturing techniques—such as Alcoa’s Ampliforge™ process—to improve production speeds, reduce costs, and achieve geometries not possible through traditional methods. Direct production of 3D-printed metal parts represents a new way to manufacture aerospace components and requires a new suite of innovative design tools to realize its full potential. By connecting our materials scientists with our manufacturing experts, we enable a rapid development feedback loop to inform new software tools and processes that take full advantage of additive capabilities.
Qualification Expertise: With the industry’s longest-running history of certifying aerospace components and qualifying processes, Alcoa will use its testing and process control expertise to overcome challenges with certifying new 3D-printed parts, starting with aerospace applications.

This expansion of the Alcoa Technical Center builds on Alcoa’s additive manufacturing capabilities in California, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Company has been creating 3D-printed tools, molds and prototypes for the past 20 years and owns and operates one of the world’s largest HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) complexes in aerospace, a technology that strengthens the metallic structures of traditional and additive manufactured parts made of titanium and nickel based super-alloys. Through the recent RTI acquisition, Alcoa gained 3D printing capabilities in titanium, other specialty metals and plastics for the aerospace, oil and gas and medical markets. This expansion positions Alcoa to industrialize its advanced 3D printing capabilities across these and other manufacturing facilities.

Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016. The project will create more than 100 full-time positions—including materials specialists, design experts, and process and inspection technologists—by 2017 and approximately 45 temporary jobs during construction.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Westmoreland County, Upper Burrell Township and Burrell School District have agreed to support the project through a mixture of financial support and tax abatements, resulting in an estimated cost savings of up to $10 million.

About Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing refers to the production of three-dimensional products by depositing one layer of material—such as metals and plastics—on top of another layer, based on a digital model. The process can help increase productivity, help customers bring products to market faster and enable the creation of complex designs not possible using traditional materials and processes.

About Alcoa
A global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our world. Our technologies enhance transportation, from automotive and commercial transport to air and space travel, and improve industrial and consumer electronics products. We enable smart buildings, sustainable food and beverage packaging, high-performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power generation. We pioneered the aluminum industry over 125 years ago, and today, our more than 60,000 people in 30 countries deliver value-add products made of titanium, nickel and aluminum, and produce best-in-class bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum products. For more information, visit www.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/Alcoa and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.

SHANGHAI, – Johnson Controls plans to build a new automotive battery manufacturing facility in the city of Shenyang in northeastern China as it continues to invest in the world’s largest new vehicle market.

Johnson Controls has signed an investment agreement for a $200 million state-of-the-art plant that is located in the Tiexi District of Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning Province. It will have capacity to produce 6 million automotive batteries a year with the industry’s leading sustainability and environmental standards.

“We have a long-term commitment to China, and the new plant will play a strategic role in our plans to meet the increasing expectations of quality products and services from customers and consumers in the country, which is one of our most important markets in the world,” said Joe Walicki, president of Johnson Controls Power Solutions.

Johnson Controls and leaders from the local Shenyang government came together to sign the agreement.

“We welcome the decision of Johnson Controls to establish its new plant in Shenyang, and we believe the company can bring its world-class manufacturing and sustainability experiences and its advanced technologies to the city for local economic development,” said Pan Liguo, mayor of Shenyang City.

Construction of the new plant is expected to begin early next year with production starting in 2018. Batteries for Start-Stop vehicles, which can help automakers meet increasingly strict fuel economy and emission regulations, will be a primary focus of the new facility.

“We want to thank the local government for its support, and will work closely with our external stakeholders including local customers, consumers and communities to build a sustainable business,” said Kenneth Yeng, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls Power Solutions China.

Located in the core area of the Circum-Bohai-Sea Region, Shenyang has been an important industrial base for China since the 1930s. It has developed a solid and diversified industrial foundation with a convenient transportation network and a trained workforce.

Johnson Controls entered the Chinese automotive battery supply market in 2005 and has set up two battery manufacturing plants in Chongqing in western China and in Zhejiang Province in eastern China. It also has a research and development center for automotive batteries in Shanghai.

About Johnson Controls:
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and seating components and systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2015, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow us @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

About Power Solutions:
Johnson Controls Power Solutions is the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, supplying approximately 140 million every year to automakers and aftermarket retailers. The company’s full range of lead-acid and Lithium-ion battery technology powers nearly every type of vehicle for our customers- including conventional, Start-Stop, Advanced Start-Stop, Micro Hybrid, hybrid and electric. Johnson Controls’ recycling system has helped make automotive batteries the most recycled consumer product in the world. Globally, 15,000 employees develop, manufacture, distribute and recycle batteries at more than 50 locations. For more information, please visit http://www.JohnsonControls.com/PowerSolutions or follow @JCI_BatteryBeat on Twitter.

PEORIA, Ill. – Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced it will begin independently designing and manufacturing its vocational truck product family at its plant in Victoria, Texas. The plant, which opened in 2012, currently produces hydraulic excavators.

“The on-highway vocational truck product family is important to our product line; customers like our trucks and want to include them in their fleets in a variety of heavy duty applications such as dump trucks, mixers, haulers or one of the other configurations we offer,” said Chris Chadwick, Caterpillar’s director of the Global On-Highway Truck Group. “To continue to provide the best solution for our customers, we will bring the design and manufacturing of this product into Caterpillar, and the production specifically to Victoria. Our updated strategy reaffirms our commitment to grow and develop our presence in the vocational truck industry moving forward.”

Caterpillar launched its first vocational truck, the CT660, in the North American market in 2011. Two more models have since been added to the lineup, the CT680 and CT681. To date, Caterpillar has worked with Navistar for the products’ design and build, which are currently manufactured in Escobedo, Mexico.

“We appreciate the collaboration we have had with Navistar,” Chadwick said. “As we look to future launches of new truck models, this updated strategy will better position us to help provide our customers with the best products and services for this market. Caterpillar continues to drive the design phase of all models, both current and planned. Before launching the product, we spent hundreds of hours on the road with customers, asking them to describe the ideal truck. We know what they want and need – from functionality of the truck itself to comfort in the cab. We plan to meet and exceed those expectations as we grow this product offering to fulfill our customers’ needs.”

The transition process will begin immediately, with production expected to begin in the first half of next year. Caterpillar Victoria will continue to produce excavators, and the addition of the vocational truck production is expected to add around 200 new jobs at the facility.

“Caterpillar Victoria is proud to be a part of this opportunity,” commented Ed O’Neil, general manager for operations for the Excavation Division. “The Victoria facility was selected because of our team’s proven record of building high-quality Cat® products, our commitment to safety and our successful implementation of the Caterpillar Production System and Lean manufacturing. In addition, support from the community and its excellent skilled workforce, as well as the proximity to suppliers, also contributed to the sourcing decision.”

Cat dealers will continue to sell and support Cat vocational trucks.

About Caterpillar
For 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2014 sales and revenues of $55.184 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three product segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

Rockford, IL— Greenlee® / A Textron Company (NYSE: TXT) announced the acquisition from its joint venture partners of the remaining interest in Endura-Greenlee Tools (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a professional hand tools manufacturer for residential, construction, industrial, and automotive channels.

Greenlee established the Endura-Greenlee Tools joint venture in 2010 to expand Greenlee’s presence in China through application of innovative technologies and leveraging the distribution network. Endura-Greenlee Tools has a strong international sales network and advanced expertise in the Chinese markets. Endura specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing high-quality hand tools for global professional trades and industrial and construction markets. Since its inception in 1998, Endura has been considered one of the top professional tool brands in China, with over 3,000 products in more than 30 different categories. Endura also has over 1,000 resellers in China, and exports to ten countries.

Integration of the Chinese operations of Textron’s Klauke tool business and Endura-Greenlee Tools into a single team allows for application of collective resources to broaden customer support and accelerate product engineering. According to Scott Hall, President of Textron’s Industrial Segment, “This strategic acquisition is a unique opportunity to provide greater value to our customers in the Chinese markets with Textron’s extended resources. We are confident that the Endura brand will deliver a more comprehensive solution to our international customers and optimize our growth in an evolving competitive market.” Endura’s diverse product line along with their experienced leadership in the Chinese markets will cohesively work with Textron’s operational expertise to drive future growth and expansion.

Greenlee Textron Inc.
Greenlee Textron Inc. is known as a global leader in the professional tool category. The Rockford, Illinois- based company develops high quality innovative products distinguished by customer-driven design and differentiated by supply chain excellence. It also leverages its powerful brands such as Greenlee Communications and Greenlee Utility in the electrical, construction and maintenance markets worldwide. More information is available at www.greenlee.com.

Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense industry, and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. For more information visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of rotating equipment manufacturer Dresser-Rand of the US by Siemens of Germany. Both companies supply turbo compressors as well as the engines which drive these compressors (“drivers”). There are different kinds of drivers including aero-derivative gas turbines (“ADGT”), industrial gas turbines (“IGT”), steam turbines and electric motors.

The combination of a turbo compressor with a driver is called a turbo compressor train. Turbo compressor trains are widely used for various applications in the oil and gas industry, i.e. exploration and production of oil and gas, their transport and storage, as well as for the refining and production of various oil and gas products.
The Commission had concerns that regarding ADGT drivers, turbo compressors and turbo compressor trains driven by ADGTs the transaction would reduce the number of significant suppliers from 3 to 2. The initial investigation also indicated that the parties’ competitors for the supply of small steam turbines of less than 5 MW have a limited presence and do not pose a significant competitive constraint on the parties. These two concerns could lead to less product variety and ultimately higher prices.

After an in-depth investigation launched in February 2015, the Commission has concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, commented: “After a detailed assessment of the markets involved, the Commission is satisfied that European consumers will not be negatively affected by the merger.Today’s decision proves that even after an in-depth analysis, the Commission can unconditionally approve a merger if it does not have a negative effect on competition.”

Turbo compressor trains’ drivers
Gas turbines are internal combustion engines that use air as their working fluid. They are used for transport applications, power generation or to drive a mechanical device such as a compressor. There are two broad categories of gas turbines:
ADGTs are gas turbines that have been derived from aero engines designed to propel aircrafts. The aero engine is adapted so that it can be used for power generation or driving mechanical devices such as compressors.
IGTs have been designed specifically for industrial purposes.
Steam turbines are used as drivers for mechanical equipment, such compressors or pumps, or to drive generators where fuels are available to be burned in a boiler to produce steam.
Electric motors transform electric energy into mechanical energy to power machinery, such as compressors.

The Commission’s investigation
The Commission’s initial investigation indicated that:
Regarding ADGT driven turbo compressor trains, the transaction would reduce the number of competitors from three main suppliers– Siemens/Rolls-Royce, Dresser-Rand and General Electric – to two main suppliers.
Regarding small steam turbines below 5 megawatts (MW), Siemens and Dresser-Rand would only face competition from few suppliers.
The Commission therefore focused its in-depth investigation on these two market segments.

The ADGT driven turbo compressor trains
With regard to ADGT driven compressor trains ,the Commission’s investigation showed that the activities of Dresser-Rand and Siemens are largely complementary, as:
they are, to a large extent, focusing on different oil and gas applications; and
they are only rarely bidding against each other in tender procedures
In addition to this, the in-depth investigation showed that ADGT driven compressor trains are largely substitutable with light IGT driven compressor trains. For turbo compressor trains with a power requirement below 23 MW, Solar is currently the market leader ahead of respectively GE and Dresser-Rand. Siemens has only a limited offering of IGTs. As a result, for trains requiring a power output below 23 MW, the Commission found that the two companies not only face competition from GE but also from Solar. Solar does not manufacture light IGTs with a power output above 23 MW..
The Commission therefore concluded that the proposed concentration would not raise competition concerns with respect to ADGT and light IGT driven compressor trains.

The steam turbines below 5 MW
With regard to small steam turbines below 5 MW, the in-depth investigation showed that the two companies are not close competitors, as their activities are largely complementary. Instead, they both face strong competition from other major suppliers on their respective market segment. Moreover, the investigation showed that a number of smaller competitors are, and will remain, active in small steam turbines below 5 MW.
Based on its investigation, the Commission found that these smaller suppliers could expand their production and that additional producers could enter the market. As a result, the Commission concluded that the proposed concentration would not raise competition concerns with respect to small steam turbines below 5 MW.

Companies and products
Siemens is a German public listed company headquartered in Munich. Siemens offers a wide range of products and services through a number of business divisions.
Siemens’ product portfolio includes gas turbines, steam turbines, generators and compressors. Siemens also produces electric motors.
Dresser-Rand is a US public company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Dresser-Rand focuses on supplying customers in the oil and gassector and in particular for upstream exploration and production, midstream transportation, LNG and gas storage applications and downstream refinery processes, as well as distribution of oil and gas related by-products.
Dresser-Rand’s product portfolio includes centrifugal and reciprocating gas compressors, small gas and steam turbines, gas expanders, gas and diesel engines and associated control panels.

Merger control rules and procedures
The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.
The vast majority of notified mergers do not pose competition problems and are cleared after a routine review. From the moment a transaction is notified, the Commission generally has a total of 25 working days to decide whether to grant approval (Phase I) or to start an in-depth investigation (Phase II).
There are currently four other on-going phase II merger investigations.
– the proposed acquisition of the industrial chocolate business of Archer Daniels Midland (“ADM”) by Cargill, with a decision deadline of 6 August 2015;
– General Electric’s proposed acquisition of Alstom’s energy business, with a decision deadline of 21 August 2015;
– the proposed joint venture between the Danish operations of TeliaSonera AB and Telenor ASA with a decision deadline of 2 September 2015 and;
– the proposed acquisition of the Greek gas transmission system operator DESFA by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is participating at Chinaplas 2015, located at Hall 10.2, Booth G-41 at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou. Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics business will showcase its leading innovation and collaboration on packaging technologies and solutions that address China’s packaging needs at all points of the farm-to-table value chain.

Market trends like population growth, rising middle class incomes, and on-the-go lifestyles in China continue to drive demand for high performance plastic packaging that extends food freshness, improves product safety, is both lighter and brighter, and provides user-friendly functionality.

Dow’s product portfolio of resins and adhesives is the broadest in the industry and can deliver a “total package” that is more sustainable, safe, cost efficient, and meets consumer preferences across China.

“By taking a holistic approach across agriculture, harvesting, manufacturing and packaging, Dow is creating solutions for the entire value chain,” said Mark Saurin, Asia Pacific Commercial Vice President, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “Dow is working at the intersections of the sciences to create innovations that will support the growth in food production and conservation needed to feed China’s population.”

Keeping Food Safe, Secure and Sustainable
Dow’s comprehensive packaging solutions meet high food safety standards and U.S. FDA requirements, offering converters, brand owners and end-users the peace of mind in ensuring convenience and functionality, especially when it comes to keeping food items safe, secure and sustainable. These solutions also meet the demand for reduced weight, increased strength, faster processing and improved downgauging.

Keeping food safe starts at the origin of the food supply chain in farms. Dow’s innovations increase yields and solutions such as greenhouse films protect crops against adverse weather conditions and support better crop growth. Bale silage and silo bag films can prevent the contamination of silage from mould, leading to better productivity from land and animals.

As food gets transported from farms to packaging locations and retailers, secondary and tertiary packaging solutions from Dow ensure consumer packaged goods are well-protected without leakage due to good puncture resistance and toughness against wear-and-tear.

For consumer packaged goods, Dow offers innovations for flexible and sustainable packaging applications such as liquid food, snack food, and meat and cheese to keep food fresh longer and reduce food waste. Food spoilage is a major contributor to the food waste problem in China. The WorldWatch Institute found that in China, US$32 billion worth of food is thrown away every year, with food scraps comprising 70 percent of all waste nationwide.1 Keeping packaged food fresh and secure from outside invaders by delaying spoilage is one of the obvious consumer benefits of Dow’s packaging solutions for the food supply chain.

Food security is further enhanced through Dow’s water-based and solventless laminating adhesives with full regulatory compliance with U.S. FDA, and no solvent residues, meeting continued local requirements for environmental controls.

Dow continues to bring awareness to the reality of the global food crisis and remains committed to developing solutions that reduce packaging leakage in order to reduce food wastage. Dow’s concept of value chain collaboration ensures sustainability and innovation along the entire food supply chain and involves all key players along the entire value chain to tackle the challenge of food waste.

The use of flexible packaging over rigid containers can reduce the carbon footprint of packaging, with significant reduction in packaging material, transportation and overall cost. One of Dow’s solutions which supports this direction is PacXpert™ Packaging Technology. The technologically advanced packaging solution, introduces a new dimension to storage with its distinctive flexibility and extensive functionality. The packaging material technology facilitates the conversion of large plastics containers into portable packages, improving packing density for shipping, logistics, and warehouse efficiency. This enables producers to create food packaging products that allow for easier handling, greater productivity, superior sanitation and processing energy savings.

1 http://www.worldwatch.org/food-waste-and-recycling-china-growing-trend-1

About Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics
Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), is a $13 billion business that combines core strengths of R&D, worldwide geographic reach, broad product lines and industry expertise to deliver sustainable solutions, products and applications for multiple plastics and adhesives markets. Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics focuses on high growth market segments in flexible and rigid food packaging, secondary and tertiary packaging, personal hygiene and medical products, and adhesive applications. With 3900 employees, 48 plants and 28 sites spread across 16 countries, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics is the largest polyethylene producer in the world, and is a leading innovator and collaborator across the value chain on solutions for better packaging. Visit http://www.dow.com/performanceplastics/ for more information. Follow Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com

London/Rotterdam – Unilever today announced plans to partner with leading mass movements, Global Citizen and Live Earth: Road to Paris, in line with its ambition to grow its business while reducing its environmental footprint and increasing its positive social impact.

This is the first time that the company has partnered with two global movements on this scale through its Unilever brightFuture campaign, which will encourage action amongst consumers towards a more sustainable future. Through these new partnerships and its growing portfolio of sustainable living brands, Unilever joins the mass social movements in support of ambitious sustainable development and climate goals this year.

Activity includes:

Partnership with Live Earth: Road to Paris across the series of global events on 18th June
Encouraging climate-conscious people to sign the “Take Climate Action Now” pledge
Helping to build the world’s largest, most effective social activism campaign to help address global sustainable development as one of Global Citizen’s major partners.
Unilever will partner with Live Earth: Road to Paris and Global Citizen to help create impact at scale across the interlinked issues of sustainable development and climate change.

Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever said: “2015 is a critical moment in time, an opportunity to agree on a universal agenda that tackles poverty and inequality and to all take action to protect the one planet we have. As a business we can deploy our resources, expertise and scale to help our consumers to take action. Today, we are adding our support for the growing movement of citizens and businesses demanding change.”

Impact through partnership
Live Earth: Road to Paris is a climate change campaign driving a vital movement for people to “Take Climate Action Now”. The mission launches with a series of global events on 18 June. Live Earth co-founders Kevin Wall and former Vice President Al Gore, creative director Pharrell Williams, along with the United Nations and The Climate Reality Project, present global events across all media platforms anchored in Paris and New York, produced by Control Room and executive producer Aaron Grosky.

2015 is a critical year for the climate movement. World leaders are meeting at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 21st Conference of the Parties, COP21 in Paris, France this December to sign a strong emissions reductions agreement. Global events will be broadcast across all major media platforms and supported by a year-long awareness and activation campaign in partnership with Unilever. The aim is to collectively secure a billion voices globally to urge world leaders to adopt a bold, universal agreement at COP 21 in Paris which is crucial to solving the climate crisis.

Global Citizen is a movement to end extreme poverty by 2030. Its newest campaign, “Unlock Your Power,” aims to encourage people to act towards making the new Sustainable Development Goals a reality. Unilever will become a Global Citizen leading partner in the effort to help build the world’s largest social activism campaign.

Unilever has maintained its vision that to be a successful business in the long-term, there needs to be an investment in the planet and its people – by addressing environmental and social challenges which include moving to sustainable sourcing, using scale to improve health and wellbeing, moving to zero waste across its factories, and ensuring that human rights are embedded across the supply chain. By encouraging support for the “Take Climate Action Now” pledge and the partnership with Global Citizen, Unilever can now help people engage in issues that impact everyone, enlisting our employees and consumers to lend their voice and take action.

Hugh Evans, CEO of The Global Poverty Project said: “The support Unilever has given to Global Citizen will enable us to engage millions of people in the movement to end extreme poverty by 2030. Their commitment to encouraging people to take action to change the systems and policies that keep people poor is remarkable. Unilever is a true example of a global citizen, and we are honoured to be on this journey together.”

Kevin Wall, Executive Producer and Co-founder of Live Earth said: “Unilever has integrated a forward-looking sustainability strategy into its core business in order to truly impact our global climate challenge. They are committed to working with their customers and empowering billions of people to be impactful agents of climate change. We could not be more excited to be on the Road to Paris with partners like Unilever that literally pave the way.”

Keith Weed, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Unilever added: “Our partnerships with Live Earth: Road to Paris and Global Citizen reflect our commitment to help tackle social and environmental issues wherever we do business. To us, climate and development issues are intertwined. We cannot have a healthy business in an unhealthy world – these are issues that business must play a part to help solve. Unilever reaches 2 billion consumers every day through our brands which gives us a real opportunity to encourage action, empowering people to be part of the positive change they wish to see.”

The Unilever brightFuture campaign aims to engage people so that:

Everyone has enough food to eat and no child goes to bed hungry
Children reach their fifth birthday and have the right to a happy childhood
Every home has enough water to drink and to wash, cook and clean
And everybody can enjoy life today while protecting the planet for future generations
Tackling these issues is at the core of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which aims to decouple the Company’s growth from its environmental footprint and increase its positive social impact. Although considerable progress has been made, there are still significant global challenges which cannot be solved by any one organisation alone. To reach its goals, Unilever believes that collaboration between companies, governments, NGOs and consumers will help create system-wide change.

April saw a marked slowdown in the rate of expansion of the UK manufacturing sector. Output rose at the weakest pace since November last year,
while the base of the upturn narrowed and became further skewed towards the consumer goods sector. The seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Purchasing
Manager’s Index® (PMI®) posted 51.9 in April, a seven-month low and below the revised March reading of 54.0 (originally 54.4). The PMI has
nonetheless remained above the neutral 50.0 mark, signalling expansion, for 25 consecutive months. The slowdown in the rate of increase of output occurred in tandem with weaker growth of incoming new business, in turn led by a decrease in the
volume of new work received from abroad.

Companies reported that the domestic market continued to exhibit a degree of strength, leading to growth of total new orders. However, the sterlingeuro exchange rate was also hitting competitiveness in our largest trading partner (the eurozone). Growth of output and new orders was largely centred on the consumer goods sector during April, with rates of expansion in this market group remaining substantial. In contrast, the intermediate goods sector saw output and new orders fall back into contraction, while investment goods firms posted a decline in new work and slower production growth.

Manufacturing employment increased for the twenty-fourth successive month in April, with modest job creation signalled in both the consumer and investment goods sectors. Increased workloads were the primary factor encouraging firms to take on additional staff. Price pressures remained on the downside in April, with both input costs and output charges falling during the latest survey month. Meanwhile, shortages of certain raw materials led to longer delivery times from suppliers. Average input prices declined for the eighth successive month during April. Where a reduction was reported, this was linked to the euro-sterling exchange rate and higher costs for commodities, oil by-products and some food raw materials.

Conversely, there also were some manufacturers reporting an increase in prices paid for dollardenominated inputs, mainly due to the sterling-US
dollar exchange rate. April saw output prices decrease for the fourth straight month, with the rate of deflation the steepest since September 2009.

Comment:
Rob Dobson, Senior Economist at survey compilers Markit:
“Coming on the back of weaker-than-expected GDP numbers on Tuesday and only six days before the General Election, today’s UK PMI delivered less
than positive news on the health of the manufacturing sector. Rates of expansion in production and order books both slowed sharply in April, meaning manufacturing is again unlikely to provide much of a boost to broader economic growth. This keeps the emphasis for maintaining the recovery highly reliant on the service sector. “Growth remains largely consumer-led, with the strong performance of the consumer goods sector
in stark contrast with other sectors. Companies that supply manufactured inputs to other firms reported a return to contraction, suggesting other firms are planning to cut production. “The investment and export pictures are also subdued. A decline in capital goods new orders is a weak bellwether for business investment spending, while a slowing global economy and strong sterlingeuro exchange rate are hurting the competitiveness of exporters. “A key challenge for the next government is to revive manufacturing and help it at least regain its pre-crisis peak, as any signs of rebalancing the economy towards manufacturing and exports remain frustratingly elusive.“

David Noble, Group Chief Executive Officer at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply: “A sudden slowdown in activity growth in
manufacturing may surprise some economic commentators hoping for a more linear recovery at higher rates of expansion, but the index remained
in positive territory this month. “The domestic market showed solid leadership by providing the source of many of the new orders albeit at a more subdued level, with export orders still dragging their feet. The consumer goods sector achieved faster growth of activity than the other
sectors, with the investment and intermediate goods sectors relative laggards.” “Businesses were keen to keep stock and inventory levels lower and are taking advantage of lower commodity costs to re-invest in other areas of the business such as employment which showed another strong rise.

“Shortages in a number of raw materials added pressure to supply chains besieged by recent rises in new orders, backlogs and ongoing activity.
Delivery times from suppliers increased which may add pressure in the coming months at a time when the sector still hasn’t made as much headway as the other sectors to reach pre-recession levels of output.”

About Markit
Markit is a leading global diversified provider of financial information services. We provide products that enhance transparency, reduce risk
and improve operational efficiency. Our customers include banks, hedge funds, asset managers, central banks, regulators, auditors, fund
administrators and insurance companies. Founded in 2003, we employ over 3,500 people in 10 countries. Markit shares are listed on
Nasdaq under the symbol MRKT. For more information, please see www.markit.com.

About PMI
Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI®) surveys are now available for 32 countries and also for key regions including the Eurozone. They are
the most closely-watched business surveys in the world, favoured by central banks, financial markets and business decision makers for their
ability to provide up-to-date, accurate and often unique monthly indicators of economic trends. To learn more go to
www.markit.com/economics.

About CIPS
The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) is the world’s largest procurement and supply professional organisation. It is the
worldwide centre of excellence on purchasing and supply management issues. CIPS has a global community of 110,000 in 150 countries,
including senior business people, high-ranking civil servants and leading academics. The activities of procurement and supply chain professionals have a major impact on the profitability and efficiency of all types of organisation and CIPS offers corporate solutions
packages to improve business profitability. www.cips.org

WILMINGTON, Del., – Today, DuPont announced it has agreed to acquire Taxon Biosciences, Inc., a leading microbiome discovery company. This acquisition will build on DuPont’s in-house capabilities and unparalleled market access in both seed and crop protection to discover and commercialize biological solutions for agriculture customers globally.

“In 2014, the businesses in DuPont’s Agriculture, Nutrition & Health and Industrial Biosciences segments sold more than $1 billion in biological solutions across four market sectors. Our in-house, cross-business venture, DuPont Biologicals, draws on our world-class science and deep understanding of food and production agriculture markets to deliver value-added crop biological solutions,” said Executive Vice President James C. (Jim) Borel. “Taxon has built a leading technology platform for the discovery of microbial based products that will further strengthen our capabilities in biologicals.”

Based in Tiburon, Calif., Taxon was founded in 2000, by leading microbial geneticists Matt Ashby and Jasper Rine, with the objective of developing a transformational microbial genomics platform to solve critical challenges in agriculture, energy and health sciences. The company holds a broad intellectual property estate in the field of microbial consortia and microbial genomics products which will contribute to the development of new DuPont seed treatment, foliar and soil application products for important row crops, fruits and vegetables.

“The acquisition of Taxon will complement and enhance our in-house microbial discovery programs,” said Frank DeGennaro, director of DuPont Biologicals. “With this added capability, we expect to accelerate our time from discovery to market and we are field testing biological discovery leads identified by Taxon this year.”

“DuPont has a legacy of innovation, and we are excited to join the company in transforming the future of global agriculture through crop biologicals,” said Glenn Nedwin, chief executive officer and president, Taxon Biosciences, Inc. “Our unique technology platform coupled with DuPont’s robust research capabilities and positioning across several markets makes the integration of Taxon into DuPont a natural fit and will support DuPont’s ability to bring new products to the market, faster.”

Crop biologicals include microbes, plant extracts, and other natural substances used to control pests and improve plant health, quality and yield. As part of an integrated management approach to control pests, biologicals can provide more choice and flexibility for growers, and complement leading-edge solutions for growers available from DuPont Crop Protection and DuPont Pioneer.

DuPont Crop Protection recently launched DuPont™ Acapela® Soft Control™ in France that combines an effective biological treatment with new-generation DuPont chemistry for foliar disease control in oilseed rape resulting in added value for our customers. Several DuPont seed products in North America today are treated with biological seed treatment products for properties such as improved stand, vigor and yield.

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Closing of the acquisition is expected in the second quarter.

Taxon Biosciences, Inc. is a first mover in the industrial microbiome field, utilizes proprietary advancements in genomics, bioinformatics and microbiology to identify, resolve, validate and commercialize microbiome-based products from agricultural or environmental settings. For more information, visit Taxon’s website at www.taxon.com.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., — (NYSE: GE) Spichers Appliance has vowed to responsibly recycle about 10,000 appliances annually through a recycling program championed by GE Appliances. The family-owned, independent retailer based out of Hagerstown, Md., joins the ranks of other large national retailers to support innovative approaches to recycling. Spichers will use the services of ARCA Advanced Processing (AAP), which services GE Appliances in 12 east coast states. Spichers Appliance is the first independent retailer to sign up for comprehensive appliance recycling services in Philadelphia.

“When you step back and look at it from the perspective of the environment and the future, it’s the right thing to do,” says Curt Spicher, owner. “Twenty- and 30-year-old appliances are energy hogs. We need to get these old appliances off the grid.”

What happens when your old refrigerator ends up in a landfill? 55 pounds vs. less than 8 pounds
For those appliances that don’t meet the cosmetic and functioning test for resale, a typical recycler will recover refrigerant and other materials and substances from a used refrigerator and then send it to an industry shredder. Using traditional recycling methods, approximately 55 pounds of a refrigerator ends up in landfills, including the insulating foam and plastics. Using GE Appliances’ Product Recycling Program serviced by AAP, landfill waste is reduced by 85 percent and less than 8 pounds of used appliance material goes into a landfill.
“Where a consumer makes an appliance purchase can now have a powerful environmental impact,” says Brian Conners, president and COO of AAP. “You are making a responsible choice when you purchase from a retailer like Spichers Appliance who is part of a responsible appliance recycling program such as ours.”

According to GE research, three out of four people want all or part of their appliance to be recycled and 82 percent of people are willing to go out of their way and drive additional distances to purchase from a recycling retailer.*
Millions have already been saved from the landfill

Nearly two million appliances have been recycled through GE Appliances’ Product Recycling Program at AAP, diverting approximately 19 million pounds of material from landfills. “We celebrate Spichers Appliance’s decision to collaborate in the recycling initiative,” says Mark Shirkness, general manager, appliances distribution and services. “And invite others to follow their lead in recycling by joining the GE Appliances’ Product Recycling Program.”

In addition to Spichers Appliances’ commitment to the appliance product recycling program, the retailer is also partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on their Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program. RAD is a voluntary program through the EPA that focuses on innovative and responsible recycling of refrigerant-containing appliances.

GE Appliances
GE Appliances is at the forefront of building innovative, energy-efficient appliances that improve people’s lives. GE Appliances’ products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners, water filtration systems and water heaters. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information on GE Appliances, visit www.ge.com/appliances.

Spichers Appliance
Spichers Appliance is a family-owned discount appliance, electronics, and security systems dealer based in Hagerstown, MD. Since 1955, Spichers Appliance has served customers in Hagerstown, Chambersburg and Winchester markets with low prices on home appliance, electronics, and security systems with top-notch customer service. http://www.spichers.com/
*Based on a 2010 survey conducted by the Stevenson Company on behalf of GE Appliances and Lighting.

SHANGHAI, Johnson Controls is expanding its manufacturing operations in China by beginning production of advanced lead-acid batteries for Start-Stop vehicles to help automakers meet increasingly strict fuel economy and emission regulations.

“We’re excited to announce the delivery of our first batch of locally-manufactured batteries to power Start-Stop vehicles for local and global automakers in China,” said Kenneth Yeng, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls Power Solutions China.

The global Start-Stop market for new vehicles could reach 49 million annually by 2020. In China, the company predicts 40 percent of all new vehicles will be Start-Stop in this time frame.

“Start-Stop is the best technology to help automakers meet increasingly strict environmental regulations while saving consumers money, as it requires minimal changes to the vehicle and costs significantly less than hybrid or electric vehicles,” said Lisa Bahash, group vice president and general manager Original Equipment, Johnson Controls Power Solutions.

Regulators in China, Europe, Japan and the United States are putting aggressive fuel economy and carbon emission reduction targets in place for the 2015-2021 time period. Start-Stop has emerged as one of the preferred technologies for meeting these targets by enabling 5 percent fuel economy savings over a conventional vehicle. The technology automatically shuts off the engine when the car is idle and restarts it when the driver’s foot leaves the brake pedal. During this time, the vehicle’s electrical systems – from entertainment to lights – use energy from an advanced lead-acid battery rather than the gas-powered engine, thus saving fuel.

“Johnson Controls is the world’s leading provider of batteries for Start-Stop vehicles and we plan to continue to invest in bringing advanced technologies, technical capabilities and capacity to the country in collaboration with our customers,” added Yeng.

The company recently began making Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB) at its facility in Changxing, China for use in Start-Stop vehicles. Johnson Controls also has plans to localize production of Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries to support demand for fuel-efficient Start-Stop technology as part of the company’s complete portfolio of energy storage products. In addition, the company debuted its 12V Lithium-ion battery for Advanced Start-Stop vehicles at the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition going on this week. The 12V Lithium-ion battery can increase fuel economy efficiency by up to 8 percent.

China represents the major growth market for Johnson Controls. The company’s commitment to growing its business in China is evidenced by its building of a second global headquarters in Shanghai, which will open in 2017.

For more information, please visit our website. Images are available in our online media center.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company’s 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through its growth strategies and by increasing market share, Johnson Controls is committed to delivering value to shareholders and making its customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow @johnsoncontrols on Twitter.

About Power Solutions

Johnson Controls Power Solutions is the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, supplying approximately 140 million every year to automakers and aftermarket retailers. The company’s full range of lead acid and Lithium-ion battery technology powers nearly every type of vehicle for our customers- including conventional, Start-Stop, Advanced Start-Stop, Micro Hybrid, hybrid and electric. Johnson Controls’ recycling system has helped make automotive batteries the most recycled consumer product in the world. Globally, 15,000 employees develop, manufacture, distribute and recycle batteries at more than 50 locations. For more information, please visit http://www.JohnsonControls.com/PowerSolutions or follow @JCI_BatteryBeat on Twitter.

BOSTON– In what may be the most perfect union of superpowers, Gillette and Stark Industries have joined together with one goal in mind: create one of the best razors in the world. In fact, Gillette has allowed Stark Industries to take over its R&D department at World Shaving Headquarters to deliver an epic shave using Avengers-inspired technology.

Of course, Stark Industries is no stranger to the toughest technological challenges, having conquered robotics, aeronautics, fringe science, and weaponry. Yet, the task at hand is a tough one: setting out to build a razor that rivals Gillette’s best razor to date, the Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology. But Stark Industries is up for the challenge.

“Gillette has developed one of the best shaving technologies around, but we wanted to see how Avengers-inspired technology would work in a razor,” said Abe Zimmer of Stark Industries.

The Gillette/Stark Industries collaboration has already taken the city of Boston by storm, as a joint Gillette/Stark Industries sign now adorns the top of Gillette’s global headquarters. And Stark Industries is taking this mission very seriously. Its R&D team has spent the last week using its own famous technology to build four prototypes of razors that promise to set a new standard for all razors going forward.

The prototypes have been modeled after members of the Avengers: Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, and Thor.

The Repulsor1 with Exoblade has an Arc Reactor Technology that generates a perpetual energy supply to obliterate face hairs with Uni-beam pulse bolts. The Gillette XL Gamma with stress-triggered sensors and an unstable molecular structure can increase up to 700% in razor mass and brute shaving force. The Gillette Ultra Strike is rebuilt with Super Soldier Technology and has a rare Vibranium-coated Shield Cartridge that shoots out from the handle to cut targeted hairs. And finally, the Gillette Thunder scorches hairs to the follicle with micro-lightning and an honor based gyro-gravity field to make it borrow-proof.

“Certainly, Stark Industries has access to technology much different than Gillette has developed over our 110 years in the grooming business,” said Stew Taub, Director of Shave Care R&D at Gillette. “We are excited to see what happens in testing as the Avengers-inspired technology is incorporated into the razors.”

Guys can learn more about these razors by checking out the video on YouTube or by visiting Gillette.com.

About Gillette
For over 110 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivaled product performance – improving the lives of over 800 million men around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave prep (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, visit http://www.gillette.com/. To see our full selection of products, visit http://www.gillette.com/en/us/shop-now.aspx.

About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves nearly five billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella® and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron
Marvel Studios presents Avengers: Age of Ultron, the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk and Chris Evans as Captain America. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine, Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.

Written and directed by Joss Whedon and produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a., Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963. Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Jeremy Latcham, Patricia Whitcher, Stan Lee and Jon Favreau serve as executive producers. Get set for an action-packed thrill ride when The Avengers return in Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, 2015.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2015 MARVEL

London/Rotterdam – Unilever today announced a new supplier policy as part of the action to halt deforestation. As a result, more of Unilever packaging – including wooden ice cream sticks – will be sourced sustainably by the end of the year.

Sustainable from labels to lolly sticks
Unilever’s target is to ensure that all materials used that contain fibre obtained from wood are traceable from certified and known sources by 2020. In 2014, the volume of sustainably sourced paper and board used increased to 87%, up significantly from 62% the previous year. Unilever is therefore now bringing forward its commitment to source all paper and board packaging sustainably by the end of 2015.

The new Wood Fibre Sourcing Policy will contribute to Unilever’s work to eliminate deforestation from supply chains. It will also help to embed the Unilever Responsible Sourcing Policy, which supports Unilever’s commitment to increase its positive social impact throughout the entire supply chain by improving the lives of workers and their communities.

The move is expected to resonate with consumers. Unilever research across 11 countries has found that three quarters of consumers would be more likely to purchase a product if they knew it was made from sustainably sourced ingredients, and according to Nielsen, millennials are four times as responsive to sustainability credentials as the over 50s. Globally, consumer spending on responsible consumption products is $400bn.

Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Chief Supply Chain Officer said:
“To meet our ambitious zero deforestation policies and support the move to prosperous and sustainable land use in developing countries, we need to work with all organisations in the value chain, such as our suppliers, NGO’s, and governments.

“The business case for doing this is clear. It helps us secure a sustainable supply of commodities into the future, and it is good news for forests and the people that live and depend on them. Action on forests can tackle emissions – at least 4.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year – while at the same time increasing food production sustainably and improving livelihoods.”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. , – International Paper (NYSE: IP) today announced plans to invest $135 million to expand fluff pulp production at its Riegelwood N.C. Mill. The investment will convert the mill to 100 percent fluff and softwood pulp production, adding an incremental 400,000 tons of capacity, with ongoing flexibility to shift between the two products. When the conversion is complete, the company will have the capability to produce up to 1.4 million tons annually of high-quality fluff. The new fluff pulp capacity is expected to ramp up mid-year 2016.

“The investment at Riegelwood proactively repositions assets to serve our customers in the growing global fluff pulp market and best positions International Paper to increase shareholder value,” said Mark Sutton, chairman and CEO, International Paper.

Fluff pulp, which is projected to grow globally at an annual rate of 3 to 4 percent, is used in a variety of applications including baby diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products. “This new capacity will support the growth of IP customers across the globe,” said Mike Amick, senior vice president, North American Papers & Pulp and Consumer Packaging. “Riegelwood is ideally located with access to fiber and proximity to shipping ports critical for supplying a global customer base.” With the current expertise at Riegelwood, combined with world-class pulp operations in Franklin, Va., Georgetown, S.C. and Pensacola, Fl., International Paper is set to build on its proven track record of success in the fluff pulp market.

As a result of the Riegelwood Mill conversion to 100 percent fluff and softwood pulp, the company will reduce its coated paperboard capacity by 350,000 tons, sell the Carolina® brand to MeadWestvaco (MWV), and focus the business on supplying customer demand in the food service and packaging markets. The sale of the Carolina business, which represents the majority of the coated paperboard volume reduction, is expected to close April 30, 2015. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Carolina is a premier coated bristols brand used in a variety of applications including greeting cards, book covers and marketing collateral. The sale captures the brand’s value, supports International Paper’s plans to expand fluff pulp production at Riegelwood and streamlines and strengthens its coated paperboard business.

“International Paper’s printing papers and coated paperboard businesses remain strategic to the company and these moves capture value while allowing for strategic repositioning and growth,” Amick said. International Paper is well positioned to support current and future coated paperboard customer demand from its two world-class mills in Texarkana, Texas, and Augusta, Ga.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs approximately 58,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2014 were $24 billion. For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

Chalfont St Giles, UK and Laupheim, Germany – 14 April 2015 – GE Healthcare Life Sciences a provider of tools, technologies and services to the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry and Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH, a leading contract manufacturing and development organization (CDMO) for biopharmaceuticals, announced today a joint celebration to mark the handover of GE Healthcare’s 1000th ÄKTAprocess™ and the expansion of Rentschler’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities in Laupheim, Germany. ÄKTAprocess, GE’s automated process and manufacturing-scale chromatography system, has gone into operation as part of Rentschler’s recently expanded single-use manufacturing suite. GE biomanufacturing technologies such as the XDR 2000L bioreactor, the associated seed trains of 50, 200 and 500 L as well as the new ÄKTAprocess play a key role in Rentschler’s new single-use manufacturing line.

Peter Rogge, VP USP Production, Rentschler, commented, “This line will further enhance our ability to deliver high quality projects for companies around the globe and is providing increased capacity in Europe of next-generation manufacturing capabilities. GE continues to have the innovative tools and expertise to deliver the high quality products and services demanded by companies like us.”

Emmanuel Ligner, GM Global Commercial, BioProcess, added, “Rentschler has the depth of experience and high-quality infrastructure to support the manufacture of the most challenging complex biotherapeutics. I am delighted to formally hand over the 1000th ÄKTAprocess and to see the new single use line featuring the GE XDR 2000L. Our relationship with Rentschler began almost 20 years ago and we are proud to have been able to support their growth over so many years. We look forward to supporting them as they adapt and expand to meet the future needs of the industry.”

About Rentschler Biotechnologie
Rentschler is a CDMO with over 40 years proven track record in biopharmaceuticals. Focused on the utilization of mammalian cell lines, Rentschler’s long experience covers the development and production of recombinant proteins in compliance with international GMP standards. Rentschler’s customized solutions range from supporting drug candidate selection, cell line and process development capabilities as well as GMP production to comprehensive analytics and fill & finish. Rentschler’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility includes bioreactors up to 3,000 L and aseptic filling lines for vials (including lyophilization) and prefilled syringes. The long-term experience with international regulatory affairs complements the offerings. Rentschler’s full-service concept allows flexibility on the individual project requirements. For more information go to: http://rentschler.de/en/home/

About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter – great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.

Growth of eurozone manufacturing production accelerated to a ten-month high in March, underpinned by the fastest expansion of incoming new business since April of last year. With the performance of the sector strengthening further, companies raised employment at the quickest pace
for over three-and-a-half years.

At 52.2 in March, up from 51.0 in February, the final seasonally adjusted Eurozone Manufacturing PMI® was above its earlier flash estimate of 51.9. The PMI currently stands at its highest level for ten months and has remained in expansion territory since July 2013.

The stand-out performers in March were Ireland and Spain, who stayed in first and second places respectively in the PMI league rankings. Improved growth was meanwhile seen in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Rates of increase in German production and new orders both surged to 11-month records, supported by the steepest gain in new export business since July 2014. Italy also registered solid and accelerated expansions of new work and output. For the Netherlands, however, growth of both variables was slightly slower than in February.

The other nations covered by the survey – France, Greece and Austria – all saw their PMI readings remain below the neutral 50.0 mark. On a mildly positive note, France and Greece at least saw their respective rates of contraction ease over the month. Austria, in contrast, sank back to the bottom of the PMI league table.

March saw the sharpest increase in new export orders* since April 2014, with growth registered in Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland. Companies reported that the weaker euro was the main factor driving new export orders higher. Manufacturing employment rose for the seventh successive month in March. The rate of job creation accelerated to a 43-month record. Workforce numbers were increased in Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Greece, but lowered in France and Austria.

The increase in staffing levels mainly reflected the ongoing improvement in the manufacturing sector, which also led to some reports that growth of new business was testing capacity at a number of firms. This led to a moderate accumulation of outstanding work for the first time in 11 months.

Cost pressures at eurozone manufacturers picked up in March, with input prices posting a modest gain following declines in the prior six months. Although the increase in average purchase prices was only mild, it nonetheless reflected a sharp movement in the trend compared to the prior month. This was reflected in a six-point gain in the Input Prices Index, one of the largest upward shifts in its level in the series history. Some companies linked the increase in input costs to higher import prices due to a weaker euro. Meanwhile, charges fell at the slowest rate in
the current seven-month sequence of reductions.

Chris Williamson, Chief Economist at Markit said:
“The final PMI reading signalled slightly stronger growth of the manufacturing economy than the preliminary reading, adding further to signs that the eurozone economy is reviving after last year’s slowdown. “Producers are benefitting from the weaker euro, which has had the dual effect of boosting competitiveness in export markets as well as making competing imports more expensive in the home markets.

“New orders are consequently showing the best growth for nearly a year, and the fact that manufacturers are boosting their payroll numbers at
the fastest rate for three-and-a half years indicates optimism that the upturn will be sustained in coming months.

“Rising demand is also helping firms and their suppliers to re-establish some pricing power. Factory input prices rose for the first time in seven months and selling prices were broadly stable, providing encouraging news that deflationary forces are easing.

“This is still a fledgling recovery, however, and the overall rate of expansion remains only modest. Importantly, manufacturing is still in decline in France, Greece and Austria, acting as drags on the region’s revival.”

Dammam, Saudi Arabia; GE (NYSE: GE) announced US$100 million in new programs that will further the company’s localization efforts, build innovation capacity, and create jobs in advanced manufacturing and software analytics.

This new investment adds to GE’s US$1 billion commitment over the past three years in the Kingdom, and aligns the company with the country’s Vision 2024 and Ninth Development Plan to diversify the economy, drive industrialization and manufacturing, and build the next-generation of human capital skill-sets in materials and data science.

The research and manufacturing programs will aim at enhancing the energy efficiency and sustainability priorities of the country. In manufacturing, GE will expand its facilities in Saudi for the region with the production of GE’s HA gas turbines – the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbine – at GE Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam.

The Oil & Gas facility in Dammam will include the manufacturing of wellheads, ‘Christmas Trees’ and other Pressure Control technologies as well as well performance services repair capability for submersible pumps. GE is also planning a first of its kind regional LED manufacturing facility.

In R&D, today’s announcement places the Saudi GE Innovation Center in Dhahran Techno Valley at the heart of the company’s technology innovation ecosystem in the Kingdom. The programs include a ‘Hot & Harsh’ Global Research & Development Program, a Software & Analytics ‘Industrial Internet’ Lab, a GE ‘in Saudi for region’ hub for Energy Efficiency technology development as well as a Monitoring & Diagnostics Center at GE Manufacturing Technology Center.

Jeffrey Immelt, GE Chairman & CEO said: “We are proud to work with our partners to co-create solutions that will find application both in Saudi Arabia and globally. We believe that future skill-sets demand strong capability in both software and hardware; and we are committed to delivering that to our Saudi workforce and our ecosystem of partners, such as Saudi Aramco and Saudi Electricity Company, as well as SMEs.”

The Hot & Harsh Global Research Program will study the effect of high temperature, dust, corrosion, erosion, duty cycle, and fuel harshness which have a critical impact on the reliability and efficiency of power plants. This research & development program will design and prototype gas turbine and auxiliaries components for testing at a simulated ‘hot and harsh’ environment at GE Manufacturing Technology Center.

In addition, GE will collaborate with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on material testing and combustion research. The outcomes will support the development of GE’s HA gas turbines, which will be manufactured at GE Manufacturing Technology Center in late 2016. GE’s HA gas turbines provide the world’s highest combined-cycle efficiency, power plant availability and unprecedented operational flexibility.

GE and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) will collaborate on advanced prototyping and additive manufacturing working with the planned state-of-the-art Technology Advanced Prototyping Center (TAPC). The program addresses the need to develop capabilities and skill-sets in material sciences, applied development and advanced prototyping. The partnership will also provide training, consultation, educational, supply chain and engagement support to TAPC and its staff at GE’s global advanced manufacturing & micro factory facilities. Also, GE is working with KAUST to advance fuel flexibility of gas turbines, which in turn can positively impact power plant availability, enabling power producers to meet the growing demand for electricity in the Kingdom.

The focus of GE Oil & Gas engineering research will be on developing new and enhanced technologies in the upstream and downstream sectors with the goal of increasing efficiency and production. This will include new software solutions as well as the next-generation of down-hole technology and Electric Submersible Pump (ESP), which has the potential to be a game-changer for the industry both in Saudi Arabia and across the world. In addition, the research will aim to advance corrosion monitoring and resistance technologies to better withstand high sour-gas environments prevalent in Saudi Arabian oil and gas fields.

Establishing an Energy Efficiency technology development hub will bring together GE’s capability across the energy value chain – from supply to demand – to address the country’s energy challenges through innovative solutions in fuel consumption, emissions and real-time data. This will be developed at the Saudi GE Innovation Center for Saudi Arabia and the region.

GE is focused on bringing its technological leadership in advanced materials science, predictive analytics as well as developing the most efficient and cost-effective energy systems. This will enable customers to optimize asset performance and operations for increased production and higher efficiencies.

Developed as part of GE’s 2012 US$ 1 billion investment, the Saudi GE Innovation Center has recorded its first technology patent, delivered training to over 600 professionals on energy efficiency technologies, hosted numerous thought leadership forums, and welcomed over 1,000 high-profile industry visitors.

Also part of the investment, GE Manufacturing Technology Center is today a Center of Excellence that has serviced over 550 gas turbines, supports 70 customers in 30 countries exporting 80 percent of its parts. The facility employs over 700 skilled workers, 75 percent of them Saudi professionals.

Another important milestone was the ground-breaking for the expansion of the GE Oil & Gas Manufacturing Facility, located in Dammam 2nd Industrial City, which covers an area of approximately 40,000 square meters. It builds on today’s Pressure Control equipment manufacturing capabilities, with plans to package and assemble equipment for GE Oil & Gas businesses including expanding Pressure Control, Measurement & Control, Subsea Systems and artificial lift.

With a presence of over 80 years, three offices and seven facilities, Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest GE workforce in the Middle East with over 1,600 employees driving the healthcare, transportation, power, oil & gas, water and aviation businesses. GE is focused on taking its work into the next industrial era with technological solutions that create economic and social value to the country and its people.
Join the conversation at our GE Hewar blog: http://middleeast.geblogs.com/

About GE:
GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif., – At the SPIE* Advanced Lithography conference in San Jose, Calif., Applied Materials, Inc., today announced the industry’s first in-line 3D CD SEM* metrology tool for solving the challenges of measuring the high aspect ratio and complex features of 3D NAND and FinFET devices. The new Applied VeritySEM® 5i system offers state-of-the-art high-resolution imaging and backscattered electron (BSE) technology that enable exceptional CD control in-line. Using the VeritySEM 5i system can speed up chipmakers’ process development and production ramp, and improve device performance and yield in high-volume production.

“Complex 3D structures require new measurement dimensions, increasing the demands placed on metrology technologies,” said Itai Rosenfeld, corporate vice president and general manager of Applied’s Process Diagnostics and Control group. “Continuing to rely on traditional CD SEM techniques to measure 3D devices is virtually impossible. Offering imaging innovations based on Applied’s expertise in advanced e-beam technology and image processing for fast, accurate on-device CD SEM metrology, allows our customers to see, measure and control their 3D device during R&D, ramp and volume production. Multiple customers using the tool are already benefiting from better yields with these new 3D devices. This system should continue to set the benchmark for the industry as chipmakers require new precision materials engineering capabilities to transition to 3D architectures and scale beyond the 10nm node.”

Innovations in metrology precision are needed to improve device performance, reduce variability and boost yields of increasingly intricate high-performance, high-density 3D devices. An advanced high-resolution SEM column, tilted beam and BSE imaging give the VeritySEM 5i system its unique 3D metrology capability to measure and monitor the most vital and challenging FinFET and 3D NAND structures in-line. Specifically, BSE imaging for via-in-trench bottom CD enables chipmakers to ensure connectivity between underlying and overlaying metal layers. For controlling FinFET sidewall, as well as gate and fin height, where the smallest variation impacts device performance and yield, the VeritySEM 5i tool’s tilt-beam provides exact, repeatable in-line measurements. High-resolution BSE imaging enables continued vertical scaling through enhanced sensitivity for measuring the asymmetrical sidewall and bottom CDs of 3D NAND devices with very high aspect ratios reaching up to 60:1 and beyond.

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in precision materials engineering solutions for the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic industries. Our technologies help make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around the world. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

BROOMFIELD, Colo., – Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) and Rexam PLC (LSE:REX) today announced the terms of a recommended offer by Ball to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Rexam in a cash and stock transaction. Under the terms of the offer, for each Rexam share, Rexam shareholders will receive 407p in cash and 0.04568 new Ball shares. The transaction values Rexam at 610p per share based on Ball’s 90-day volume weighted average price as of Feb. 17, 2015, and an exchange rate of US$1.54: £1 on that date representing an equity value of £4.3 billion ($6.6 billion). This represents a premium of 36 percent over Rexam’s closing price as of Feb. 4, 2015, the last trading day prior to media speculation concerning a potential transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Rexam shareholders will own approximately 19 percent of Ball’s fully diluted shares outstanding. Both companies’ boards of directors unanimously support the transaction. In addition, Ball will provide a Mix and Match Facility, which will allow Rexam shareholders to elect, subject to offsetting elections, to vary the proportions in which they receive new Ball shares and cash.

The transaction is subject to approvals from each company’s shareholders and regulatory approvals. It is expected that the necessary clearances will be obtained in the first half of 2016. Following closing of the transaction, Ball will remain a New York Stock Exchange listed company domiciled in the U.S.

Ball and Rexam represent two companies with complementary metal beverage packaging product offerings and strong cultural compatibility. The combined company will have pro forma 2014 revenue of approximately $15 billion and approximately 22,500 employees across five continents.

“The combination of Ball and Rexam creates a global metal beverage packaging supplier capable of leveraging its geographic presence, innovative products and talented employees to better serve customers of all sizes across the globe; while at the same time generating significant shareholder value,” said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

“Today’s announcement aligns with our Drive for 10 strategic vision of maximizing value in our existing businesses, expanding into new products and capabilities, aligning ourselves with the right customers and markets, broadening our geographic reach and leveraging our know-how and technology. Once successfully closed, we expect the combination will provide $300 million of annual run-rate, value creating synergies in the areas of general and administrative, sourcing, freight and logistics and process and efficiency savings which are additive to our long-standing financial strategy of growing diluted earnings per share 10 to 15 percent over time, generating significant free cash flow and growing EVA dollars,” said Hayes.

Stuart Chambers, chairman, Rexam said, “The Rexam board believes that the proposed combination with Ball is a compelling opportunity for our stakeholders. By combining the two companies, we will create a truly global platform to deliver best-in-class service to customers based on a shared culture of manufacturing excellence and continued innovation. The proposed transaction offers our shareholders an attractive premium and an opportunity to participate in the value creation of the combined group through ownership of Ball shares.”

Scott C. Morrison, senior vice president and chief financial officer, said, “The financing structure for the transaction has been committed by a diverse set of global financial institutions offering competitive pricing and borrowing flexibility.”

“Ball’s existing strong free cash flow coupled with the free cash flow of Rexam will allow us to aggressively pay down debt post-closing as we have done following past highly accretive acquisitions such as Reynolds Metals in 1998, Schmalbach-Lubeca in 2002, U.S. Can in 2006 and the AB InBev plants acquisition in 2009. Given the cash generative capabilities and the $300 million of annual run-rate synergies of today’s proposed transaction, we expect to maintain a solid credit profile after this transaction is complete. Our pro forma leverage will be approximately 4.5 times net debt to EBITDA following this transaction, a level similar to our leverage following the Reynolds Metals transaction, when we were a much smaller company. Once we have reduced the leverage to levels in the range of 3.0 times net debt to EBITDA, the company will re-initiate its share repurchase program, and we are targeting 2018 for that,” said Morrison.

In summary, John A. Hayes, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, “As our customers’ global reach and product portfolios expand and consumer packaging preferences evolve, the Ball and Rexam combination allows us to remain competitive versus other packaging substrates and responsive to our stakeholders needs for sustainable, innovative and low-cost packaging solutions.”

Representing Ball Corporation as lead financial advisor is Greenhill & Co., with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom acting as lead legal advisor, and Axinn, Veltrop and Harkrider acting as lead antitrust advisor. Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and Goldman, Sachs & Co. also represent Ball as financial advisors. In addition to cash on hand, committed debt financing is being provided by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, KeyBank National Association, Royal Bank of Scotland PLC and Rabobank.

About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2014 sales of $8.6 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

NEW YORK, March 5, 2015 – DuPont (NYSE: DD) announced that at the J.P. Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Industrials Conference held today in New York, DuPont Executive Vice President Matthew L. Trerotola discussed strategy, progress and plans to accelerate growth in the three Advanced Materials segments for DuPont. Strengthening and growing the company’s leading position in high-value advanced materials is one of the three areas of strategic priority for DuPont.

Discussing the company’s Advanced Materials segments, Trerotola said, “We’ve made excellent progress in Performance Materials, Safety & Protection and Electronics & Communications. Our bottom line earnings and operating margins have increased, and we are committed to further improvements. Moving forward, we are driving to accelerate growth while expanding margins in support of the DuPont strategy to build a higher growth, higher value company.”

Mr. Trerotola highlighted the strong progress DuPont made across the company in 2014, including: further refining its portfolio with 10 strategic portfolio actions and the advancement of the anticipated mid-year spin-off of Chemours; increasing the company’s cost reduction targets for its operational redesign to at least $1.3 billion by 2017 on an annual run-rate basis; and continuing the company’s commitment to return significant capital to shareholders with $3.7 billion returned to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in 2014 alone.

Mr. Trerotola also noted several factors the company and Advanced Materials segments are confronting that will have an impact on the first quarter, but expressed confidence in long-term performance: “As we noted before, 2015 will be a challenging economic environment as we face certain headwinds related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the continued volatility in energy markets which impacts our Performance Materials segment. In addition, the unplanned outage at our Chambers Works facility will challenge productivity and earnings in our Safety & Protection segment in the first quarter. We are committed and confident in our ability to execute on our plans while remaining poised to capitalize on changing market conditions and growth opportunities.”

In addition, Mr. Trerotola outlined how DuPont is strengthening and growing its leading positions in Advanced Materials: “Today, DuPont is focused on a $50 billion portion of a $500 billion potential market. We believe we can accelerate our growth in the market space we are currently targeting while tapping into new market opportunities as our businesses execute against their strategies. These strategies include: step-changing applications development; collaborating for maximum success in key markets and applications, and driving an advanced materials pipeline of major innovations that includes both traditional and bio-based materials. While we have made strong bottom line progress in our Advanced Materials segments, we believe these initiatives will help us drive faster top line growth while retaining strong operating leverage.”

“Our market relevance and integrated science are true competitive advantages for DuPont. We use market-facing units, networks and strategic account management to maximize our relevance at key customers. Our business draws on leading science and engineering to bring integrated science solutions to the world. Going forward, we see very exciting opportunities to bring renewables and bio-engineered materials into new and existing applications in our markets,” concluded Trerotola.

DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel discussed growth priorities driven by key research advancements and product launches across the Agriculture and Nutrition & Health segments at today’s Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2015 Global Agriculture Conference.

“While farmers worldwide met the challenge of building grain supplies the last two years, long-term demand for agricultural production is expected to continue at the pace of the last decade, when demand for corn and soybeans increased 40 percent,” said Borel. “To meet this demand for more and better food, DuPont is delivering innovative solutions across the food value chain fueled by a robust research pipeline, which leverages our leading positions in seed, crop protection, ag services, biologicals, nutrition science and food formulation.”

Extending DuPont leadership in Agriculture and Nutrition is one of the company’s three strategic priorities to build a higher value, higher growth company. Following the separation of Performance Chemicals, the Agriculture and Nutrition & Health segments are expected to represent about half of total company sales.

Advancing Innovation in Agriculture Research Pipeline

Borel presented an update of the agriculture research pipeline for DuPont, noting six key program advancements and the addition of four research programs which have moved forward out of the discovery phase.

“Focused investments in research and development are yielding exciting innovation in our seed and crop protection pipelines and will position DuPont to better serve our customers and deliver value to our shareholders,” said Borel. “Our global pipeline reinforces our leadership in germplasm and breeding, crop protection, and our growing strength in proprietary biotechnology trait development.”

In addition, Borel highlighted near-term launches in corn by DuPont Pioneer, the advanced seed and genetics business of DuPont. DuPont Pioneer launched Pioneer® brand Optimum® Leptra® corn hybrids in the southern United States in 2014 under a stewarded program. With the recent Chinese import approval of the Agrisure Viptera® trait, DuPont Pioneer will expand its U.S. lineup of Optimum® Leptra® corn hybrids in 2015 and expects also to launch in Brazil for the 2015/2016 Safrinha season, pending completion of field testing and applicable regulatory reviews. DuPont Pioneer anticipates that the approaching launch of DP 4114 will help enable it to develop higher yielding corn hybrids and expand its triple-stack offerings to about half of its North American corn volume mix in the years following introduction. DP 4114 received cultivation approval in the United States and Canada in 2013 and will be tested in Pioneer’s IMPACT™ trial system in 2015. It is anticipated to launch in a stack configuration early in the second half of this decade, pending completion of field testing and applicable regulatory reviews.

In soybeans, DuPont Pioneer is making solid progress transitioning its North America soybean lineup to its newest Pioneer® brand T series soybean varieties, which will account for about two-thirds of volume in 2015. This year Pioneer® brand soybean varieties with the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ trait will be tested in IMPACT™ trials with first commercial sales anticipated as early as 2016, pending completion of field testing and applicable regulatory reviews.

While presenting the DuPont Crop Protection pipeline, Borel highlighted our new proprietary seed treatment solutions, including Dermacor® for soybeans which we successfully launched on over 3 million acres in Brazil last summer. The DuPont Crop Protection pipeline was recently named “Best R&D Pipeline” by Agrow for the second consecutive year and third-time overall, building upon the success of innovative insect control products like Rynaxypyr® and Cyazypyr®. Borel noted that over the life of these products, peak annual sales for Rynaxypyr® are expected to approach $1.5 billion and for Cyazypyr® are expected to exceed $500 million.

Borel also spoke about DuPont™ Zorvec™ disease control, a new low-rate mode of action fungicide for fruits and vegetables by DuPont Crop Protection. The first global launches are expected in 2015, pending regulatory approvals. DuPont believes Zorvec™ will provide growers with unmatched consistency and disease control to realize better crops for better business.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.